Sand dispenser



Jgly 17, 1951 Filed April 7, 1948 B. s. sNow 2,561,148

SAND DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 B.' S. SNOW SAND DISPENSER July 17, 1951 Filed April '7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 17, 1951 B. s. SNOW 2,561,148

SAND DISPENSER Filed April 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 17, 1951 B. s. sNow 2,561,148

SAND DISPENSER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 17, 1951 SAND DISPENSER Barton S. Snow, Batavia, Ill., assig'nor to T. W. Snow Construction Company, a corporation of Illinois Application April, 1948, Serial No. 19,501

2 Claims.

This invention relates to sand dispensing apparatus, and while not limited thereto it is particularly adapted for filling the sand boxes on ailway locomotives, particularly of the Diesel ype.

The present invention is an improvement over that of my copending application Serial No. 552,229 filed September 1, 1944, now Patent No. 2,542,588 dated February 20, 1951.

Among the objects of my invention are: to provide a novel and improved sand dispensing apparatus; to provide sand dispensing apparatus having improved means for transferring sand into a. storage tank and for dispensing the same to sand compartments in railway locomotives and other suitable locations; to provide sand dispensing apparatus having .a plurality of dispensing spouts, and novel means for swingably mounting the same on sand tank supporting means, and novel means for manipulating said spouts during sand dispensing operations; to provide novel means for preventing erosion of the sand tank cover when introducing sand under pressure into the storage tank; to provide .an improved Valve whereby the flow of sand will be immediately stopped from flowing out of the discharge nozzle when the valve is closed; and such further objects, advantages and capabilities, inherently possessed by my invention, as will later more fully appear.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. I is a side elevation of a sand dispensing apparatus embodying my invention and showing the sand dispensing spouts as swung horizontally into position for introducing sand into the'sand compartments of a railway locomotive.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking toward the left hand side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. H

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical longitudinalsection on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section through the sand dispensing valve.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section on the line 'I--T of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of the lower portion of the storage tank supporting column and the bas 'footing therefor. v M y l l 2 Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, showing the means for rotatably supporting the spouts with relation to the supporting column.

Fig. 11 is a transverse section on the line I I-I I of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged longitudinal section on the line I2-I2 of Fig. 8.

In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a sand storage tank I having side walls 2 and a bottom wall 3, is mounted by means of angular brackets 4 to the upper end of a supporting column 5 of preferably tubular steel or the like. Supporting column 5 is provided at its bottom end with reinforcing brackets 6 having an annular bottom flange 1, said brackets 6 being welded or otherwise fixed to the supporting column in any manner desired. Flange 1 is seated upon the top plate 8 forming the upper closed end of a bottom supporting column 9 having a hollow interior portion I0 for the initial reception of sand to be forced up into the tank I as later more fully explained.

As seen in Fig. 8 the bottom end of the tubular column 5 may be open, but such opening is closed by the top plate 8 which forms a sealed cover for the top of the chamber IU within the bottom column 9. Bottom column 9, as seen in Figs. 8, 9 and 12 is provided with an upwardly and outwardly inclined tube II having threadably or otherwise secured at its outer end a closure I2. Sand may be introduced into chamber I0 through the tubular neck II and when filled to the desired degree cap I2 will be screwed thereon. Extending outwardly through the wall of bottom column 9 is a pipe I3 to which is secured a threeway valve I4 to one part of which is attached the tube I5 which in turn is secured to a hose I6. Rotatably mounted in valve III is a member I'I having an angular port I8 therein whereby when the rotatable member I'I is moved into the posif tion shown in Fig. 12 air 'under pressure within the chamber I'Ii will be released to atmosphere to vent said chamber. When rotatable member Il is rotated through an angle of in a clock*- wise direction as viewed in Fig. 12 air under pressure will be passed from hose I6 through this Valve and into chamber I0.

As seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 the free end of hose I6 is provided with a coupling I9 for connection to the air system of a railway locomotive having sand introduced into its sand compartments. The bottom column 9 is provided with strengthen- "ing brackets 2li welded or otherwise secured to this column and having at the bottom ends thereof a plate 2| forming and sealing the bottom of compartment I0. Plate 2| is rmly secured in position by bolts or other suitable prow jections 22 the lower ends of which are embedded in a concrete footing 23 initially poured in place below the frost ilineof the ground.

As seen in fFig. 8 .a .pipe 24 passesv through a nipple 25 fixed in the Wall of bottom column 9,

the inner end of pipe 24 terminating near thek vertical center of chamber I and slightly Vabove the bottom plate 2|. Outside of bottom column 9 the upper end of connection-)pipe .2li-connects with a vertically extending ppipe .25 :which .at-.its upper end passes through the bottom 3 of tank I and then extends upwardly through. the open chamber within tank I to the nipple "27 lwelded or otherwise xed to the bottom plate. .23ct the blow head 29.

.As-soon as the .concreteiooting 23 :has set a block of concrete 3E] is poured in a suitable hold .th.ereaboveV the .top `surface il Tof concrete...block @it beine approximately even with 1the..tnnsurface of the rails -of )the adjacent railroad track. in .pouring concrete 3B fan opening 31.2 ...is `:provided of approximately the outside diameter ofthemottorn y eoluinr-1 A9 :to lpermit gaccess yto ,the .bottom-.end of pipe 26 and the pipe connectionfor renewal, repairs or the like.

Blow head 29 .tis .formed ,with an upstanding tubular member Si-iltiaivinganY open upper .end .34 fformed adjacent .its lbottom `with a :plurality of yvent holes 35 '.to gavoid 1the -ormation .of a-.sucu tion while sand ,is :being lblown .upwardly through -thisfhlow head. Extendingdownwardlv .imamstaneealone theisides 0f theitubularniember $53 is .ca cap-Sii.. Secured toV this tubular member by .a plurality of :spacing .members al .spaced .apart suitable distances.V .circumferentialljy .around the upper exterior :portion `-of `,tubular vmember '.33.

Cap 3.6 v,has weldedor 'otherwise xed thereto. a :top plate .38 positioned .fa lsubstantial distance above the top end 34 of tubular member L33.; VThe spacingof the-side walls 'of icap Aiffrcin xthe side "wall of tubular memberf33 provides a plurality of passageways whereby sand when `blown into the .blow .head will l be .-forced oirer the .tap :edge .of the "tubular :member and downwardly @through .the .spaces betweenwthese walls, ythe .sand following thefarrows 39 in f4.

In .forder to. prevent r.the blast 7of sand trom Sweaiingtad hole in the .top plated-38.1 have yprovided a downwardly extendingsleeve .member it welded or- .'otherwise xed :at its top .to` lthe. inner face ,of fhlate e8 v.and havingitsvbottomfend: terminating :a slight fdistance -below the. top ledge of ,tubular :member -33 andA spaced .radially inwardly there vfrom to provide the :space 4followed zby arrows 3S. .Asqthe'sandenters thisblow -head Ait w-illgfill the 'spaceiwithin sleeve 4:0 :after which -the incoming .sand will strike the sand deposited `tl'ierein and fbeedeflected sidewiseand follow rthe path of ar- ;rows 39 finto `the `space within the sand vstorage tank -.l.

Erom the above rit will :be seen fthat sand ymay .be initially poured znto the fbottem .chamber 1.5 :through -the feedfpipe I'Iqand'a-terfthe cap [I 2 has been fastened in place 'airnnderpressure ywillrbe Airrtroduced above thesand `in 'chamber H3 .andthe sand therein blown'upwardly throng-h pipe 25 fand :blowhead 29 into Athe yinner space of storage tank-|. As many charges ofsandfas-.desiredzmay be -thus `introduced tinto the storage tank -until the.same.-is.lled to the desired degree.. .Valve .IA will be manipulated as desired to either force air 4 into chamber I0 or Vent it from this chamber to the outside air as desired. Secured in circumferentially spaced relation to the outer surface of the upper end portion of sand storage tank I are a plurality of angle members |62. A cover plate IGS is provided having xed to its under surface a plurality of circumferentialliy.:spacedrdownwardly yextending legs ITM whi'chiatftheiribcttomfends are welded or otherwise fixed to the fiat annular 4plate |55. Annular plate |05 when the cover is in position on the tank will be bolted to angle members I |32 by bolts IBB which may be removed .whenitris .desired.to.remove the cover. As will be noted .in .-Eig..'3 .the inner surface of the cover plate |03 is elevated some distance above the top Yedge Vvof the Walls of tank I, and the legs |34 being lci-rcumferentially spaced apart this provides an outletiand an inlet for air into the sand storage tank to permit it to breathe as the volume of sand therein may be increased or decreased. This cover Y.also prevents entrance ofthe weather .ele- -ments to the'inslide 4of .the tank.

Rotatably mounted jin 'the 'bottom 5' of .storage tank I 'is a spout 4I the longitudinal opening therein alining with opening 42 inthe tank-'bottorn.Y Atits .upper end and. yinst below opening. et., spoutll I has fixed thereto by'weldingorotherwise asdesired, an annulalllange '43 .whichgisconined within a complemental opening iin 'the pair o'f side plates 44 and 45. "Sidey'plates 4d and 5and ange 'd3 are` seated above .the V.liiiottom plate f 'having .an Opening 't0 'receive .the .snout '4 I., and 'above 'ange i3 'and `plates 144. and .45 there is ...positioned 4a metallici'gasket .member .lil 'havfing an Qpenins 'inlorigitudinal alinement `with the opening in the snout and jorm'ed around .the `'opening in this Jgasket 'with .a downwardly inn .'clinedannularfwall .5.3. 'The'nclinationfof Wall lisis similar to that nof the upper .end 'ofthe spoilt .4I so that when 'these'.parts ;are.4claniped to .the bottom 3 ofthe sand 'storagetank "by a plurality ofibolts 49 the spoutJmaylberotated.in ahorizonftalplane'without anypossibility .off sand .entering vthe space between metal gasket '41,. `Ldange 53,

. plates 44 and :45 and bottom .plate 56,. Ijhis enables rotation lof ,the SpOu'ttin pagswinging direc.- tion without undue wearbjetween `the .parte Fixednear he vupper .end of" spout .4| with its iongitudinau axis in -aiinemem with .the longitudinal axis of that portion of `.s ,pout til .which joins tank bottom K3, is va 'downwardly' extending tube 55 welded or otherwise xed 'to the spoilt as seen inFig 5. By having Y.said openings 'in longitudinal alinement Arotation of tube; .5.0 will cause rotation of spout/4| in ahorizonta'l swing- `in g direction. Connected tospiout 4;|: at15j| and vextending downwardly divergently therefrom `is a `second spout. '52, .these two spouts' 'being rigidly secured together Yby the bracing Yframework com..- posed of the tubular endy` members 15.3 and .'52 iixed to spout IH at their upper ends. The end brace 54 at its bottom vend iswelded -or other- -wise .fixed vto the spout "52. Also xedto spout 52 at its lower end .isla 'lower tubular bracing i :member 55. Tubularbracing'imembers32and 55 at their adacent ends are welded for otherwise xed .as hdesired itc .as-supporting. plate @555. as shown in Fig. 1 0.. .As further :bracing :these 1ends :of members. 53 vand .5.5. togetheran angular plate member 5'I is welded theretoqin' fthe. angle 'between the ends Jof these :bracing members. 53 and :55.

Welded Yor otherwisexed .to .the ,outsideof the upper supporting column 5 and .adjacent .the meeting ends of bracing members 53 and 55 is a metal bracket 58 having a flat upper plate 59. Plate 59 near its outer end is formed with an opening 60 within which rotates the downwardly extending arm 6| which arm extends at its upper end above plate 59 and into the tube 50 which as stated, is at its upper end fixed to spout 4|. Arm 8| is lxed to tube 58 by any suitable means such as a pin 62 so that these parts will rotate together when depending arm or rod 6| is rotated. Tube 5i), and brace members 53 and '55'being welded or otherwise vfixed to plate-56 it will be seen that rotation of arm or rod 6| will cause the-two spouts 4| and 52 to swing laterally in horizontal planes.

In Fig. 10 the detent pin 63 is yieldably .pressed upwardly by means of a coil spring 64 lthrough openings 65 and 66 in plates 61 and 59 respectively. As seen in Fig. l0 plate 51 is also welded or otherwise fixed to brace members 53 and 55, and to plate 61 so that these parts move together as a unit. A suitable reinforcing member 68 may be fastened above plate 61, and a similar reinforcing member 69 is fixed above plate 59, these reinforcing members having holes in alinement with holes 65 and 66 in plates 61 and 59. The detent pin 63 may be Withdrawn downwardly to permit swinging movement and then released so that when the spouts return to their initial position the detent pin will again snap into the hole in each of plate 61 and member 68 to securely hold the spouts till needed for use again.

Coil spring 64 is mounted within the cylindrical casing 10 and detent pin 63 passes through the bottom cap 1| of such casing. At its lower end below the casing, pin 63 is formed with an eyelet 12 to which is attached a flexible pull member 13 so that when this pull member is pulled downwardly detent pin 63 may be removed from the holes above reinforcing member 69 to permit swinging of the spouts and bracing framework thereof. As seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 the arm or rod 6I at its bottom end is provided with a bracket 14 to which is fulcrumed at 15 a handle 15 so that said handle may hang straight down by gravity when out of use and when it is desired to swing the spouts the handle may be moved upwardly into the dotted line position shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The exible pull member 13 may be secured to bracket 14 at 11, to be readily available to be puller by the operator when swinging of the spouts is desired. As seen in Fig. 11 diverging brace members 18 and 19 may be welded or otherwise fixed to the upper surface of plate 61 and along their vertical edges welded or otherwise fixed to the bottom end portion of tube 59 for bracing purposes.

Secured to the bottom end of each of spouts 4| and 52 is a flexible hose 80 to the bottom end of which is connected a sand valve 8| adapted to be respectively positioned for discharging sand into the sand boxes 82 located in the railway locomotive (not shown). The details of this sand valve will be understood in Figs. 6 and '1. This valve has a tubular member 83 adapted to be pushed with a frictional t, or otherwise secured, in the lower end of the nozzle 86. Fixed to the lower end of tubular member 83 on the outside surface thereof is an annular collar B4 to which is xed the upper end of a second tubular member 85. This second tubular member has fixed to the inner surface of its lower end a collar 86 to which is fixed a third tubular member 81. Slidably mounted in tubular member 83 is a sleeve 88 which adjacent its lower end is formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings 89. Fixed to the bottom end of sleeve 88 as viewed in Fig. 6 is a bottom plate having slightly upturned inclined marginal The overall diameter of plate 90 is greater than the inner diameter of tubular mem- 'ber 83 so as to form a closure for the bottom end of tubular member 83. In Fig. 6 plate 90 is shown in its closed position, but it is pointed out that it is not necessary that the same actually contact the bottom edge of tubular member 83, but it is suicient if it stand a slight distance away therefrom, as sand will not ow horizontally. The upper edge of the inclined marginaledge of plate 90 is however sumciently close to the bottom end of tubular member 83 to prevent sand from flowing therethrough when the plate 99 is closed. From the above it'will be seen that when closure plate 98 and sleeve 88 are lowered as a unit, sand within sleeve 88 and hose 89 will flow out through openings 89 down through the hollow interior of tubular member 85 and thence downwardly through the tubular member 81 which later serves as a nozzle for guiding the sand into its place of deposit. Also it is to be noted that when sleeve 88 and closure plate 99 are moved .upwardly into closed position the ow of sand will immediately stop instead of requiring an interval of time to empty the hose when the valve is positioned at a higher level.

To provide for opening and closing manipulation of sleeve 88 and closure plate 90, which jointly constitute a piston, I have provided a handle means in the form of a U-shaped member having the inner upwardly extending leg 92, the lower laterally extending leg 93 and the outer upwardly extending leg 94 which latter at its upper end has an outwardly inclined handle portion 95 provided with a ball 96 for convenience in manipulation. The inner upwardly extending leg 92 is xed to bottom plate 99 by being screwed into a nut 91 fixed to the bottom plate. Collar 84 adjacent the handle portion 95 has fixed thereto a laterally extending yoke 98 having a slot 99 of sufficient length to permit the outer upstanding leg 94 to have lateral movement therein when pressure is exerted inwardly against the ball 96. When such pressure is released leg 94 will return to its outer position with some pressure against the outer end of slot 99 due to the inherent resiliency of this U-shaped handle member. Fixed at a suitable vertical location to the outer edge of the upstanding leg 94 is a stop member Ill which when the leg 94 is released will rest on the upper edge of the outer end of yoke 98. At this time the bottom plate 99 is in closed position. When it is desired to open the valve the ball 96 is pushed inwardly to free stop member 09 from the adjacent edge of yoke 96 after which the U-shaped handle member and the piston within tubular member 83 will be lowered as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. This will permit sand to flow from hose 80 through the nozzle 81 into the place of deposit. To permit such vertical movement of the U-shaped handle member the tubular member 81 is formed with a vertical slot |0| within which the laterally extending leg 93 is vertically movable during manipulation of the valve. During use of the valve it may be closed by raising the U-shaped handle member to position stop member |08 above the yoke member 98 and then releasing the pressure thereon to again position stop member |88 above the yoke when sneffnandiefmay be releasedfand new offffsand 'Yoh-'rough the salveWillbednstantlyfstopped, T .s prevents .the :flowing: ofwmore.- Sand .than y:is e.- '.`S;ir e d1 zinto f the place ,p fv, deposit,-- e ,sf.vvo1i1ol occur :shouldfthe valve be positionedatithe topend of thehose The foregoing detailed. descriptionrisgivenifor :.clearness of ;understanding-on1y, @nd 'f no auri- :necessary limitations should abe understood zihoefrom, for some modications-Wi'll loe-obvious to Athose 'skilled in thel art.

fzavingy described my invention; I claim:

1. :In-:av railvszay` sand: dispenser for vdispensing Sandf finto., the sand rcompartmen-ts of f as gailway engine iai sandf storage tank Supportiligrlmean :115;

fand rigidlysecured to said frameworkwandto tsaid *frst mentioned' spoutin axial ialinernent with the'pivotal axis of therstfmentoned spout :with the tank, anda downwardly extending arm l'xeduto-said pvotmember to' beiavailablertoan operator onr a ioWer: clevel, whereby@ saidf spouts may Iloe swungwas Va -unit .acrossaan z enginefor :servicing IBO 8 .'2hlAfvsandidispenser- .as .claimedinnlaim :which ...said downwardly. .extending arm l has ,to handlemrlgably vr mounted :at its lower entdlor selectively hanging ,straight down to ,be .QUT/wei the .way.. a nd for moving .to Ya position approxi- ,matelyeat right angles. tol the `arm to servefasea handlel-BARTON S.. .SNQWL Aim@FERtancias Y. GITED Tfheffollowing references are of I--recorl111,1. the :file of .this patent:

" UNITED vSJ'TA'lES "PATENTS .1,317,144 23,119.19 .1,400,034 13,11921 1,412,100 11,'1'922 1,414,092 25,11922 11,519,604 16,119.24 11,519,668 $16,453.24 15574549 Bieshar ,Feb..23;;19 26 586,465 Parduc. f May 25,192 1,"6845649 Tolman, Jr. Sept .;1.3, 19,28 11,758,131 Stirdvant May 13111930 1,817,409 Gusmus w, :411%:441931 V1,940; 'l0 1 Shope ,gDecl 26,"193- 3 1,994,899 Schaub f---f-r.- Mahu19f1935 21132353 193g -2',3'75;057 'Wiegand May 1,1945 

